Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
Schools as partners in community health: PHINMA Education champions maternal and child nutrition
Philippines
National
Schools as partners in community health: PHINMA Education champions maternal and child nutrition
Schools as partners in community health: PHINMA Education champions maternal and child nutrition
Initiative helps mothers and children build healthier beginnings for lifelong learning and well-being
Published Oct 16, 2025 03:24 pm
Through the First 1,000 Days program, PHINMA Education schools empower families and build healthier communities by supporting maternal and child nutrition. (Photo courtesy of PHINMA Education)
Recognizing the vital connection between health and education, schools under the PHINMA Education network are extending their mission beyond classrooms through the First 1,000 Days (F1KD) program — a community-driven initiative that supports maternal and child nutrition during the most critical stage of early development.
The F1KD program provides holistic care for mothers and their children from conception to age two — a period proven to determine lifelong health, learning capacity, and overall well-being.
“When malnutrition strikes in the first 1,000 days, the damage is often irreversible,” said PHINMA Education President and CEO Chito Salazar. “This short window determines whether a child will thrive or face lifelong challenges,” he added.
According to Nutrition International, stunting affects 3.4 million Filipino children under five, costing the economy an estimated US$8.5 billion (P496 billion) each year in lost productivity.
Launched in 2018, the First 1,000 Days (F1KD) program is PHINMA Education’s flagship community initiative that tackles child malnutrition and stunting in areas surrounding its campuses.
Guided by its mission to make lives better, the program empowers families to build healthier beginnings through education, nutrition, and care for mothers and children during the crucial first 1,000 days of life.
Active partners
Through F1KD, PHINMA Education schools are becoming active partners in improving community health.
Students, faculty, and staff volunteer in home visits, maternal checkups, nutrition education sessions, and breastfeeding and family planning seminars to ensure consistent support for mothers and families.
The initiative is currently implemented in adopted barangays surrounding seven PHINMA Education campuses located in Quezon City, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, and Cagayan de Oro.
“We want our schools to be good neighbors to the communities around us,” Salazar said. “By working with families in the first 1,000 days, we help lay the foundation for healthier, stronger communities,” he added.
Learning by serving
The F1KD program also provides students with hands-on learning opportunities that integrate education with real-world service.
PHINMA Education schools are extending care to their neighboring communities through the F1KD program, offering steady care and support for moms and their kids during the first 1,000 days. (Photo courtesy of PHINMA Education)
Nursing students conduct prenatal education sessions, psychology students offer psychosocial support, and tourism and hospitality management students prepare nutritious meals. Criminology students, scholars, and student leaders help run feeding programs and health monitoring activities.
To strengthen long-term impact, schools also conduct capacity-building sessions with barangays and local government units, promoting proactive health campaigns, community monitoring, and sustainability efforts.
PHINMA Education is the largest private school network in Southeast Asia, operating in the Philippines and Indonesia.
Since 2004, it has championed affordable, student-centered education for first-generation college students.
A member of PHINMA Corporation, the network embodies the group’s commitment to nation-building through initiatives in education, housing, hospitality, and construction.
Positive results and lasting impact
Since its launch, the program has served 90 pregnant mothers, leading to the birth of 74 healthy babies meeting World Health Organization standards for weight and length, with 16 mothers still expecting.
“If we don’t act, an entire generation will grow up stunted — in body, mind, and future,” said PHINMA Education F1KD Program Lead and Community Development Specialist Heide Foulc.
“This isn’t just a health issue — it’s also an education issue, an economic issue, and a poverty cycle we can break if we act early enough,” Foulc added.
Building partnerships for a healthier future
Sustaining the F1KD initiative requires close collaboration among the Department of Health (DOH), National Nutrition Council (NNC), local government units (LGUs), barangay health workers, and private organizations.
“This is more than a health program — it is a community effort and a nation-building initiative,” Salazar said. “Together, we can ensure that every Filipino child has the right start in life,” he added.